Thank You, Public School

As an eighth-grader, I dreamed of going to a prestigious private school. Nothing was wrong with my current learning environment, in fact, it was pretty great, but I quickly got sucked into the allure of a big name.

I faced the choice between my "Zoey 101" dreams or remaining with what was familiar. Ultimately, however, I made the decision to remain at the local public school district I had attended my whole life, and I have not once regretted this resolution.

Public school often carries a sort of negative connotation - maybe you even assumed the title of this article was sarcasm. Sure, there are great public schools, but often private school proponents look upon their public counterparts with scorn. Other public school students regard the school system with disdain as well.

One common thread I have observed, however, is that those who take this viewpoint often blame the school for their own shortcomings. Instead of taking full advantage of the wealth of AP courses, competent staff members, and bounty of opportunities for involvement, students often ignore these resources and instead opt to bash what the system lacks, rather than acknowledge the opportunities it affords them.

"It would be so much better if I went to private school."

"(Insert public school name here) is the worst!!!"

"Public high school is a hell hole that should not exist!"

These are all sentiments I have heard echoed frequently amongst my classmates. Not once, however, have I ever shared these sentiments.

I'll be the first to admit that public school certainly has its faults. In fact, there's tons. However, learning to deal with these faults, and still making the most of my educational experience has been the most valuable lesson I have learned throughout all of my years of schooling.

Public school isn't simply circumstances to be overcome. Instead, it's a time of great opportunity to grow and flourish into the person we are each meant to become.

I am immensely grateful to the teachers, clubs advisors, and other influencers who guided me throughout my high school experience. Not once have I felt that "all they cared about was getting a good report."

In these people, I found unwavering support and guidance in every endeavor I explored in my time in high school and beyond. I always knew there were classrooms I could go to when I needed extra help, a refuge, or someone to talk to.

They were invested in far more than my grade in their classroom; they cared and listened to what I had to say.

My public school education wasn't perfect, but nothing is. Yet, the positive experiences of this time period of my life far outweighed the negatives.

Thank you for helping me find my passions. Thank you for my best friends. Thank you for all the great memories.

15 Signs You Have Senioritis

People always say, “College is the best 4 years of your life!” While college is a great time, it’s almost like having a baby and the baby is you. You get no sleep, you cry a lot, you depend on others to feed you, and you have no idea what you’re doing. So here are some telltale signs that you need a breather…or a 12-day nap.

1. People tell you how nice you look when you actually wear jeans instead of yoga pants.

2. You cancel your weekend plans just to catch up on all the sleep you’ve been missing during the week.

3. You say the words “I can’t wait to get out of here” at least once a day.

4. You have competitions to see whose dark circles under their eyes are the darkest.

5. Sleeping through the 20 alarms you set is a normal occurrence.

6.You calculate how many classes you can miss without failing before you even start on the homework assignments.

7. You constantly say, “I have so much to do!” and then proceed to binge watch Jane the Virgin on Netflix.

8. Apologizing to your teachers for forgetting to do your assignments has become part of your everyday routine.

9.You text people “are you going to class?” to see if you’re the only one who is slacking today.

10. People don’t recognize you when you actually wear makeup.

11.You wonder why you bought the book for class when you know you're not going to read it anyways.

12. You’re constantly running late…or as I like to call it, “making an entrance."

13. You forget how long it’s been since you showered.

14. You’re forced to do laundry because you ran out of all your yoga pants and t-shirts.

15.You start wondering if those last 3 months are realllyyy worth that degree...

How To: Prepare For Mid-Terms

It's that time of the semester again. The tests are beginning to pile up, the homework is non stop, and you don't remember the last time you had a free second to yourself. Midterms are upon us once again. I have test after test after essay after project. The work seems never-ending. Here are tips on thriving, not just surviving.

1. Study

This one is first and obvious. if you want to do well you have to study. The best way to study in my opinion is to write things down. That is the easiest way to memorize key terms or just any simple facts that will be needed for a test.

2. Be organized

Have a planner, and write in it. This the only way I am ever sane during the school year. I look at my planner every day to see what I have to do for the day and weeks ahead. It is also nice to be organized as a whole. Keeping papers together in folders for each class and notes neat and organized will make studying for midterms even easier.

3. Do not procrastinate!

This is something I am definitely still working on. The best way to prevent procrastination when it comes to studying is to take it a little at a time. A week or so in advance of a test, starting studying. Maybe a couple key terms, or a chapter a day. Your memory will strengthen, and the night before review everything you have already covered. Instead of cramming it all in the day before, you will recall all the material quickly and accurately.

4. Sleep

Another thing that college students do not often make a priority. It seems that everyone focuses on drinking coffee and trying to stay up as late as humanly possible. It is not healthy, at all. Get some sleep. Even if you are studying up late at night to put as much information as possible into your head, it will affect your mood the morning after. If you wake up with a headache after getting little sleep, it might be hard to succeed on a test compared to a good night's sleep.

5. Take a break sometimes

After a long day of studying, a break can be needed. A simple 30 minute break can help refresh your mind to be prepared to study more. Personally I like to watch Netflix. Any shows like Friends or The Office really help me take a break and not think about school for 25 minutes. I also like food breaks. Eating is a great way to gain some energy while talking to friends, and not worrying about studying.

6. Don't forget to be positive!

While a lot of work all at once can cause stress, think on the bright side. With a negative attitude, the work will never get done, and the studying will never be as successful.